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How to make a spinner ring

Rebecca Suzanne Delaney Updated April 17, 2017

Spinner rings are very popular, but the design is quite old. Spinner rings have two parts: a wide ring band and a smaller band that fits on the outside of the wide band and moves independent of the wide band. Spinner rings are also called “worry rings” and “fidget rings.”

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Measure your finger or the finger of the person for whom you plan to make the spinner ring with a standard ring gauge.

Cut a piece of 18-gauge sterling silver sheet so that it is about 3/8-inch wide and 3 inches long.

Wrap the cut piece of 18-gauge sterling silver around a ring mandrel at the size you need for your ring. Use a rawhide or plastic mallet to shape the ring.

Cut off the excess sterling silver with a jewellery saw.

Slip the ring back on the ring mandrel and use the rawhide or plastic mallet to reshape distortion to the ring caused when cutting. Be sure the edges of the ring are flush.

Solder the ring closed. Place the ring on a charcoal bock. Paint flux on the seam with a paintbrush. Put a small piece of solder under the seam. Heat the ring with a torch until the solder flows and the ring is soldered shut.

Wrap a piece of 12-gauge half-round wire around the ring mandrel to create the second ring that will spin around the larger ring. Check the wire ring to be sure it fits over the soldered ring. Cut off the excess wire with your jewellery saw. Reform the ring as needed and solder the 12-gauge wire using the same procedures as you did in step six.

Place both rings in an acid pickle bath using copper tongs to remove oxidation caused when soldering. Remove the rings from the pickle and rinse them with water.

File the rings to remove any excess solder. Sand the rings with 220-grit wet/dry sandpaper to remove tool marks and scratches caused by fabrication.

Slip the small band over the wide ring band. Flare the edges of the wide band by placing the band on a steel block and then hammering the edge of the band with a bordering hammer. Turn the ring over and repeat so that both ring edges are evenly flared and the narrow band can no longer slip off the wide band.

Sand the flared edges with 220-grit wet/dry sandpaper until the edges are smooth and comfortable to wear as a ring. Switch to 400-grit, 600-grit, 800-grit and 1200-grit sandpaper and sand until the ring has a high polish.

Tip

Substitute gold, brass, copper or any other nonferrous metal for the silver to create a different look for your spinner ring or to work at a different price point.

Warning

Use fire safety precautions when working with a torch. Work in a ventilated space when soldering and using an acid pickle bath.

About the Author

Rebecca Suzanne Delaney began publishing in 1980. She is a university-trained artist and the author of dozens of books and articles on a variety of topics, including arts and crafts, law, business and public policy. Delaney earned degrees in liberal arts, psychology and law.